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One other thing guys...its hard on batteries to charge them when they are not close to dead. It gives them memory and can make the charge last less and less.....I agree about charging them right away though. If you store it over the winter make sure to charge them once a month or so!
I read an article many years ago that said to use a hydrometer to test the specific gravity of your batteries as they are charging and only charge them up to 1.265. Best advice I know of for battery longevity. The only one I know of that you can do this with is the one Prestone makes - it's a flat clear plastic housing with a rubber hose on the bottom and a squeeze bulb on top. Just periodically test each cell until the pointer is on 1.265. If you have a cell that is getting weak, it will be obvious from your test readings. This will give you a little advance warning that your battery needs to be replaced.
Everything you EVER wanted to know about batteries..........
[url]http://batteryuniversity.com/index.htm[/url]
[QUOTE=floatman;385973]everything everybody else said, but I would check the trolling shaft and look for fishing line wrapped around it, would slow the motor down and could cause big trouble, if for no other reason too rule it out, I use wal-marts stowaway MAX just replaced them they were 04s, I use a 10 amp charger put it on as soon as i put it in the garage, and let it charge till it gets to zero JMO
Gary[/QUOTE]
I missspoke when I said stowaway I ment to say EVRESTART
here is another really nice battery site [URL]http://www.ibsa.com/www/faqs/tech_talk/maintenance/charging.htm#a-1[/URL]
[QUOTE=lroberts;386055]One other thing guys...its hard on batteries to charge them when they are not close to dead. It gives them memory and can make the charge last less and less[/QUOTE]
Not true. Lead-Acid batteries do not have memory and allowing them to remain in an even slightly discharged state is about the worst thing you can do to them. Charge them as soon as possible whenever they aren't at full charge with a 3 or 4 stage charger that can supply at least 5A, preferably 10-15A for maximum battery life. The life of the battery is badly affected by time spent below full charge.
Trickle chargers will overcharge a battery since they typically provide 2A at all times which can boil the water out. Use a 3 or 4 stage that has a float mode to maintain full charge at all times.
[QUOTE=lroberts;386055]One other thing guys...its hard on batteries to charge them when they are not close to dead. It gives them memory and can make the charge last less and less.....I agree about charging them right away though. If you store it over the winter make sure to charge them once a month or so![/QUOTE]
the so called memory is when the plates sulfate due to battery getting hot when in use and then it cooling down will cause the plates to sulfate this is were the memory of lasting 10 hours to 8 to 6
I recently purchased a hydrogen fuel cell.........It was a BITCH hooking it up to a 24 trolling motor, but I can now troll for 6450 days without EVER Recharging.... :) :)
Wohoo.
Later,
Geo
[QUOTE=GeoFisher;386156]I recently purchased a hydrogen fuel cell.........It was a BITCH hooking it up to a 24 trolling motor, but I can now troll for 6450 days without EVER Recharging.... :) :)
Wohoo.
Later,
Geo[/QUOTE]
That is only 1 year of fishing at the rate that you go, better by a spare and take with you just in case.
GeoFisher - if the hydrogen fuel cell comment wasn't a joke, I'd be very interested in knowing more about it!
Actually............it was a joke :) :)
Sorry.........but I BET there are some options out there.........
Later,
Geo
[QUOTE=CatFan96;386146]Not true. Lead-Acid batteries do not have memory and allowing them to remain in an even slightly discharged state is about the worst thing you can do to them. Charge them as soon as possible whenever they aren't at full charge with a 3 or 4 stage charger that can supply at least 5A, preferably 10-15A for maximum battery life. The life of the battery is badly affected by time spent below full charge.
Trickle chargers will overcharge a battery since they typically provide 2A at all times which can boil the water out. Use a 3 or 4 stage that has a float mode to maintain full charge at all times.[/QUOTE]
You are correct sir! I did some research with Interstate batteries......and....what I said only applies with batteries such as ones in cell phones. They did say that automatic chargers...ones that shut off when the battery is full...are the way to go. Overcharging them is the worst thing that you can do, next to leaving them uncharged fully. Thanks for correcting me! I guess I learned you can't believe everything you hear!